In the 30th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by five wickets at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
CSK won the toss and opted to field first, and their decision was largely successful. The visitors bowled with discipline, with the exception of the final five overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Matheesha Pathirana took crucial wickets, while Noor Ahmad and Anshul Kamboj impressed with their economical stints, keeping the score under control. Behind the wickets, MS Dhoni was as sharp as ever, reaching an important mark with his 200th IPL dismissal, becoming the first player to do so. He also executed an incredible underarm run-out at the non-striker’s end, leaving spectators and commentators in awe. Despite CSK’s best efforts, LSG managed to achieve a competitive score of 166/7, which was somewhat above average on this surface.
In the chase, CSK finally got the powerplay performance they desired. Rachin Ravindra (37) got things started quickly, while newcomer Shaik Rasheed (27), who wowed with a performance of absolute elegance, added to the momentum. The youngster hit six beautiful boundaries, each a visual feast. Together, they put together a strong 52-run opening stand. However, a mini-collapse occurred as CSK lost a few wickets, putting the chase in jeopardy. But it was Shivam Dube (43) and skipper MS Dhoni (26) who rose to the occasion, leading the team home with three balls remaining. Dube pushed his way with three fours and two sixes, while Dhoni, ever the finisher, shined with four boundaries and a six, combining for a match-winning 57-run partnership.
Mitchell Marsh (30) made a solid start at the top, laying the groundwork early on in his comeback. The real star, however, was skipper Rishabh Pant, who returned to form with a stunning 63. His counter-attacking knock, which included four boundaries and four huge sixes, enabled the home team to recover from early wickets. Pant’s authoritative presence at the crease stabilised the innings just when it was most required. Ayush Badoni (22) and Abdul Samad (20) came in late to score key runs and give the innings a solid conclusion.
With this ball for the five-time champions, Jadeja and Pathirana grabbed two wickets each. One wicket each was also taken by Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj.
For LSG with the ball, Ravi Bishnoi scalped two wickets, while one each wicket was picked up by Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan and Aiden Markram.
Skipper Dhoni was adjudged Player of the Match for his brilliance with the bat and in the field. With this win, CSK have managed to break their five-match losing streak and now have four points.
Scorecard:
Lucknow Super Giants: 166/7, Rishabh Pant 63, Ravindra Jadeja 2/24
Chennai Super Kings: 168/5, Overs 19.3, Shivam Dube 43*, Ravi Bishnoi 2/18